Cindy Crawford furniture line

First, Cindy Crawford was a supermodel. Then she became a
super businesswoman associated with many international brands,
filling in what scant spare time she had by writing books, creating
skincare lines and making exercise videos.

First, Cindy Crawford was a supermodel. Then she became a super businesswoman associated with many international brands, filling in what scant spare time she had by writing books, creating skincare lines and making exercise videos.

Most recently, she's turned her talents to furniture design. And after debuting her new collection in the United States 18 months ago, she has now brought it to Canada, at The Brick stores.

"Some are pieces from the original launch; we're also adding collections as we go along," says Crawford, on the phone from her home in Malibu, Calif.

"The new partnership (with The Brick) benefits from our experience with other retailers -- we know what's selling." Crawford says the move into furniture was prompted by the challenge, and adds that she feels like she's "getting a college education" while she's doing it.

"It was not a natural jump. Obviously everybody has a home and I've always spent time decorating mine -- especially when you travel a lot, your home is really your refuge. And a couple of my homes had been photographed for Architectural Digest over the years," she explains.

"My main partner in the U.S., Rooms To Go, the president was aware of me as a model and contacted me, and said, would I be interested?" The result is seven collections, ranging from the traditional to the urban and hip to the casual and slip-covered.

"We have a line derived from some of the furniture I have in my home in the (Beachside) collection. That's the way we live, the playroom where the kids hang out," she says.

"My main focus started with accessibility and quality. Leather is great quality but it can also be expensive. At $2,200 for a leather sectional, that's achievable." She says she's really designing with someone like herself in mind -- "a 41- year-old mother of two who likes to entertain and who wants people to feel comfortable in my house.

"That said, my husband designs bars and nightclubs and he likes the hip factor," Crawford continues. "I run things by him." Crawford says the furniture collections have grown more rapidly than she'd anticipated.

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